Many flowers call it a day as soon as the sun sets, but evening is often the time we want to spend in our outdoor spaces. Cocktail parties, cookouts--or just cooling down after steamy summer temps--are enhanced by a bevy of beautiful blossoms. This is the time plants like the evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) like to shine.
This annual (or biennial, depending on local climate) boasts yellow flowers more than two inches wide that open at dusk. It flourishes from June through October in the Northeast, so it's a handy plant to have around this time of year, as many other flowers die down.
Evening primrose doesn't need much nurturing. It's been known to thrive in dry meadows, waste places and along roadsides, but don't let its humble abodes deter you. It looks magnificent when paired with purple petunias or red roses. Its sunny demeanor holds its own among the more noble blooms.
What's more, the entire plant is edible. Principally cultivated for its root, it can also be prepared as a tea or tincture to treat coughs related to colds. A salve made from the plant treats skin irritations, and traditionally, it was used as medicine for the urinary system, relieving bladder and urethra pain (though I don't recommend applying it in this fashion without checking with your doctor first).
Because the hardworking evening primrose produces brilliant yellow buds and lush foliage around the clock for a solid four months with little or no supervision, it deserves a spot in your flowerbeds.
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